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Sleep Apnea Treatment in New Jersey

Sleep apnea is a disruptive condition that many New Jersey patients suffer from. Dr. Richard Bucher and his team at Laser Dentistry of North Jersey are proud to offer several treatments for this annoying and often dangerous disorder.

Patients suffering from sleep apnea stop breathing for periods of time during sleep, restricting oxygen to the brain and causing often intense reactions as the body struggles to begin breathing normally.

Why Treat Sleep Apnea?

Although sleep apnea’s effects such as snoring and restlessness may seem like mere annoyances, the condition can have very serious consequences and should be treated as such.

Sleep apnea is associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, coronary artery disease, and other serious conditions. Patients who may be at risk for sleep apnea are encouraged to contact us and visit our New Jersey dentistry practice for more information on its cause and possible treatment options.

What Are the Symptoms?

Snoring is the most commonly recognized symptom of sleep apnea, although patients with the following symptoms are highly encouraged to seek diagnosis and treatment for condition:

Tiredness during the day, even after a full night’s sleep

Restlessness during sleep or continuous shifting of position

Poor memory and slowing of other mental function during the day

Out of the ordinary moodiness or emotional feelings

Impotence

An overwhelming need to nap during the day

Some of these symptoms may only be noticeable when a patient’s spouse or other sleeping partner alerts him or her of the symptom, such as snoring or restlessness. Patients may be diagnosed with sleep apnea because of a combination of medical history, a physical exam, and the results of a sleep study. The presence of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate a patient has sleep apnea.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

New Jersey patients suffering from sleep apnea have hope at Laser Dentistry of North Jersey. Headed by Dr. Bucher, our expert team may be able to offer solutions to the condition or refer our patients to a sleep specialist. Some common treatments for sleep apnea include:

Weight loss – Mild sleep apnea may prevent the normal breathing function during sleep, which may be remedied with exercise and diet./li>

Quitting smoking or drinking – Both alcohol and tobacco products have negative effects on the body that can cause the lungs to struggle breathing or slow the body’s natural physical processes, such as breathing. Quitting these triggers may reduce or eliminate sleep apnea.

Treating dental causes – Sleep apnea may also be caused by dental problems, including an uneven bite or missing teeth, which can inhibit the body’s intake of air during sleep. The repair of these and other dental conditions can reduce or eliminate the risk of sleep apnea.

Oral appliance or mouth guard – Patients who may have restricted air flow due to a dental problem such as uneven jaw may find relief with a mouthguard or bite splint that corrects an uneven bite and can provide an unrestricted airway.

For more information on sleep apnea and the varied other family dentistry services we offer at our New Jersey offices, please contact us today.